W.P. Baynes
Back in the Spring, I was amazed to discover a needle book on eBay with an advertisement from a furniture store located in my hometown of Metropolis, Illinois. Of course, I had to have it. The needle book features a picture of a lovely girl on the cover. The title says "W.P. Baynes, General House Furnishings and Undertaking". The inside is decorated with old-fashioned pictures, poetry and a 1914 calendar. Once it arrived, I thought it would be fun to find out more about W. P. Baynes and his business affairs. I spent several hours poring over the microfilm newspapers and local history books at the library.
William Pinkney Baynes came to Metropolis in about 1877 and lived here until his death in 1954. He was an active participant in local government and opened his furniture and undertaking business in 1912. His original store was located at 3rd and Ferry streets (the building most recently occupied by The Trading Post), just five blocks from where I live. Mr. Baynes sold his furniture store to the local chain, Rhodes-Burford. I remember there being Rhodes-Burford stores around at least until the 1970's, though I don't remember there being one here in Metropolis.
Mr. Baynes funeral home, also established in 1912, has hardly changed in 88 years. The only difference I can detect is that the first floor porch is now enclosed. Local folks will recognize it as The Miller Funeral Home which is still in business at the 400 block of Metropolis Street, just a couple of blocks from my house.
I found numerous advertisements for his furniture and undertaking business in "The Metropolis Herald" from the years of 1914-1916. The old newspapers provided fascinating reading and I discovered that in many ways, things have not changed a whole lot since then.
I have saved for last the most amazing part of my search for the history of this needle book. W. P. Baynes was the grandfather of the respected local doctor, Ralph Frazier, and..... Dr. Frazier is the father of a dear friend. In other words, I know W.P. Baynes great-granddaughter!
References for this article include "The Metropolis Herald" newspaper and "The Pictorial History of Massac County."
